[Research Internship] What did last year's participants gain? We interviewed them!

In this article, we interviewed Harada-san, who participated in last year's summer internship and is serving as a mentor this year.
What was Harada-san, who is now involved in many projects in Odaka, thinking about during the internship?
We will ask her about the theme of "the power to formulate questions."

▽ Click here for the "The Power to Formulate Questions" online seminar held on Friday, May 31st

▽ Click here for details on this year's Odaka Summer Internship

▽ If you would like to attend an information session, please apply using this form.
*After confirming your application, the secretariat will contact you via email.

———— What does it mean to "formulate questions," which is the theme of the internship?
I think "formulating questions" means thinking about what kind of questions need to be solved in order to resolve an issue. It's easy to jump at something happening right in front of you and say, "This is exactly the problem!" But I don't think that's essential.

———— Then, what do you think is an essential question?
I think an essential question is
a comprehensive question that addresses all the issues happening right in front of you. To reach that point, I had to keep facing the question, "Why is what I'm dealing with necessary for society in the first place?" Finding the essential issues of a region was truly difficult.

———— How did you overcome that difficulty?
I don't think I could have overcome it alone, but I feel like I found something essential when I talked with my mentor, Tanno-san, late at night. We faced the unanswered question, "What is an essential issue for society?" together. I've had adults give me serious feedback for the sake of a company before, but I feel like this was the first time someone truly confronted me on the question of

"What should we do to make society better?" ———— Did you gain anything by overcoming it?
By thinking it through in Odaka, I think I gained
the mental stamina to keep facing questions that have no answers. Also, my sense for what makes a good question was sharpened, and I became able to understand "how much stamina is needed to reach a good question." I used to think "formulating questions" was a given, but after actually practicing it, I realized the difficulty and importance of continuing to face questions.

———— Is this experience useful for anything now?
Through the internship, I realized that I like thinking about things structurally. Adults have understood those strengths of mine, and now I am being given
exciting opportunities to be involved in space events and regional revitalization in Odaka. Even in those, I've started to think, "What question am I answering by doing this task?" My own sense of satisfaction and the evaluations I receive change depending on whether I've formulated a question for a task or not.
———— Finally, who would you recommend this internship to?

Kind people... I definitely want people who seriously want to make society better
to come. I think you will be able to realize what is truly important for society with a sense of conviction. Also, people with the curiosity to dive into the unknown.
I think people who can properly face and think about what they are curious about will be able to produce good output accordingly.

When you are in a region, you are given so many different opportunities. I never thought I would be involved in space, so I think the charm of a region, especially Odaka, is that such various opportunities are just lying around.

📑 For those who want to know more about the internship!

① We are holding an online event!

On Friday, May 31st, from 20:30 to 21:30, we are planning to hold a seminar featuring guests who are actively working through this internship. Harada-san, who answered our interview this time, will also be speaking! We look forward to seeing those who are considering their future careers and those who are interested in the internship.

② For those considering participating in this internship

We also hold internship information sessions and casual interviews at any time.

If the information session schedule doesn't work for you, or if you want to hear more even after attending an information session! please consider a casual interview. Please apply using the form below. *After confirming your application, the secretariat will contact you via email.

③ Click here to enter

We look forward to your participation!